Slow Burn The Road to the Iraq War | 7. Judy
Jun 9, 2021
Judith Miller, influential reporter on the narrative about weapons of mass destruction during the Iraq invasion, discusses how she got the story wrong. The podcast explores the media's support for the Bush administration's narrative and the New York Times' decision not to publish a potentially impactful story. It also reflects on the consequences of journalists' decisions and the role of accuracy in journalism.
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The Untold Story
- Shortly after July 4th, 2001, Judith Miller told Steven Engelberg about an intercepted Al-Qaeda conversation.
- The conversation hinted at a large-scale attack, but lacked specific details, so Engelberg decided not to publish the story.
The Two Sides of Journalism
- There are two sides to the decision of not publishing the story: upholding journalistic standards by requiring proper sourcing or potentially missing a major scoop.
- This highlights the balance journalists must find between publishing quickly and ensuring accuracy.
Judith Miller's Aggressiveness
- Judith Miller was known for her aggressive reporting style, especially in the lead-up to the Iraq War.
- The episode explores why Miller, among many reporters covering WMDs, took the fall for the inaccurate reporting.